Fines will be applied to any vehicle that parks in the space without charging

If you've ever pulled into a gas station to fill up your car only to be stymied by someone who filled up their car and then went into the store to shop, you know how irritating it can be to be blocked from refueling. Apparently, Washington EV drivers are fed up with gasoline-powered vehicles using parking spaces in front of malls/shopping centers equipped with electric chargers and specially designated for electric vehicles.

The irritation for many electric vehicle owners is that there is currently no incentive in place to prevent gasoline-powered vehicle drivers from hogging spaces equipped with electric vehicle chargers.

The problem, however, is now being addressed by the Washington State Legislature with a new bill proposed last month that would impose a fine of $124 on drivers who park in a designated charging station without charging a vehicle. Lawmakers in the House approved the fine by a vote of 84-12. The fine had previously been approved by the state Senate and now goes to the governor to be signed into law or vetoed.

The fine won't only apply to gasoline vehicles that park in charging station spaces. Even electric vehicles parked in the charging station space, but not charging will be subject to the $124 fine. The bill also requires charging stations be marked with a vertical sign and green pavement making them marked in a similar method as handicapped spots.

No they don't want to dig up the parking lot just to run lines out there. The most logical and cheapest way to make EV spot would be closest to where they can get power from the establishment. Most likely, you will see it nearest the buildings. One last reason is that people can locate the EV spots.

Stop being unreasonable. No one is getting special treatment. These people that drive EVs are paying SOME of the front load costs this new tech. Sure it is subsidized by the government and they get a nice tax credit also but that doesn't cover all the costs. When an actually useful and affordable EV is available, you can thank them for financing the research and being the guinea pigs for buying the initial production vehicles.

This has nothing to do with political agendas. EVs actually have a bright future especially with where all the energy research is going. When Nuclear Fusion can be stable and controlled, we will have more power than we can ever use. It will also be even cheaper than the current nuclear power plants.

quote: Stop being unreasonable. No one is getting special treatment. These people that drive EVs are paying SOME of the front load costs this new tech. Sure it is subsidized by the government and they get a nice tax credit also but that doesn't cover all the costs.

I don't think you quite understand, the government doesn't subsidize anything - taxpayers do. People who can't afford to buy an EV don't like being forced (by threat of federal prison) to help pay for someone wealthier than them to buy an EV, and then being told if they don't park in the back then they'll be fined.

Your tax dollars belong to the government. I think I understand quite well. By your logic, you might as well say the money came from the companies you work for.

I pay taxes and a lot of it. I would rather the government put it into something that is good for us all in the long term. I would like my kids, grand kids, great grandchildren etc... to live in a good environment, not a wasteland.

The government doesn't force any establishment to have EV spots in front. It is a choice where the spots are. It is cost effective and easier to find. Get it in your head. The government, however, is saying that if you don't own an EV then don't park there so EV drivers can park there and charge their cars.

On the flip side, I'm sick of seeing fat people collecting disability, SSI, welfare etc... I'm not talking about legit people that needs it. I'm talking about the scammers that abuse the system because they're lazy. That's a waste of government fund or as you would call it "taxpayers"

Stop hating on wealthier people. Most earned their wealth, you can earn yours too if you have some ambition.

quote: Stop hating on wealthier people. Most earned their wealth, you can earn yours too if you have some ambition.

I'm not sure why you think I hate wealthy people. I just don't think we should subsidize cars that are essentially toys for environmentalists. Can the average family really afford one of these, even after subsidies? If not, it's a luxury. There's nothing wrong with luxury, I just don't think it should be paid for by other taxpayers.

quote: I pay taxes and a lot of it. I would rather the government put it into something that is good for us all in the long term. I would like my kids, grand kids, great grandchildren etc... to live in a good environment, not a wasteland.

Do you really think that without EVs our earth will become a wasteland? That's a pretty extremist position to take, IMO.

quote: Your tax dollars belong to the government.

Yeah and the government is supposed to belong to the people. We're so far removed from that now though.

quote: I'm not sure why you think I hate wealthy people. I just don't think we should subsidize cars that are essentially toys for environmentalists

I think that because you said this "People who can't afford to buy an EV don't like being forced (by threat of federal prison) to help pay for someone wealthier than them to buy an EV"

Let me explain it to you one more time. There are tax brackets. If you make less money then actually pay a lower % than wealthier people. The fact that you make less money and pay a smaller % of a much lower amount should tell you the huge difference in taxes paid. You can say you paid for some of that EV for someone else. They can say they paid much more of something else for you. It's relative as all the money is in one pool. If you can't afford an EV then you probably paid much less taxes.

The demographics for the Model S is working middle class. Anyone can buy it, but it was aimed for people who make 60-150k a year salary(job). That kind of salary is hardly rich and you'll see a very large percentage of your salary disappear before you receive it.

Considering anyone with a degree can get a job for at least 55k with no experience. They can easily afford this car in a few years after college.

quote: Do you really think that without EVs our earth will become a wasteland? That's a pretty extremist position to take, IMO.

No I didn't say that. I said something that's good for the environment. Vehicles create a good portion of air pollution that causes many harmful environmental effects. It is not the only contributor. Research towards EV will solve some of that problem. There are research towards other problems as well but we are talking about EV here.

quote: Yeah and the government is supposed to belong to the people. We're so far removed from that now though

No kidding. Guess why that happens. For almost all of the elections, the majority of people don't vote. It's only recent that you see a large % of people voting. Sad part most people vote without doing much research. Some simply vote all Dem or Rep because they're extremely loyal to one party. Most people don't even realize the parties are confused themselves. They are actually the exact opposites of what they used to be.

quote: No I didn't say that. I said something that's good for the environment. Vehicles create a good portion of air pollution that causes many harmful environmental effects.

I'll quote it again (bolded for emphasis):

quote: I pay taxes and a lot of it. I would rather the government put it into something that is good for us all in the long term. I would like my kids, grand kids, great grandchildren etc... to live in a good environment, not a wasteland .

So, your argument for EVs is that you don't want your grandchildren to live in a wasteland, but driving ICE vehicles won't result in them living in a wasteland? I know I'm not quite awake yet this morning, so can you explain to me how you said that but didn't say that? I suppose I assumed you were implying that the alternative to EVs was a wasteland in our future, when perhaps you were mentioning a wasteland for some other reason.

This is disgusting. Yet another way the common person is being marginalized in this country. As if it's not bad enough having all 200 of the best spots handicapped reserved (who has EVER seen that many handicapped vehicles parked at once ever?), then the next 50 are taken up by "Expectant mothers/women with children". Now friggin EV parking?

This is bullshit man! Someone is not a better more deserving person simply because they bought an EV!!

"Intel is investing heavily (think gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours) in resources to create an Intel host controllers spec in order to speed time to market of the USB 3.0 technology." -- Intel blogger Nick Knupffer